The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-25
Special Contributors.
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SHALL WE CONTINUE THE INTER
NATIONAL LESS0NS2
BY REV EDGAR LEAvITT.
Oshkosh, WIS.,

I.
This is not new question with US.
There has been, on the part OF some, an
objection to the International Lessons
ever since they were adopted; not only
in our denomination, but in others as
we'll. Some of the objections made by
the others are the same as those made
by our own people; some are peculiar
to ourselves.
There seems to be no question that
we are to have a system of uniform les
sons in the denomination, published as
at present, and distributed through our
Publishing House, selected and arrang
ed by somebody. So there is no neces-
sity of discussing thatpoint. 1t is very
likely that whoever selects and arran-
ges the lessons and prepares the lesson
study, universal satisfaction with the
selection, arrangement and treatment
of the lessons is not to be expected.
No one will do the work perfectly, be-
yond the reach of some just criticism
and even if it were so done, there would
be some who would not know it, and so
a certain amount of dissatisfaction
must be expected whatever plan be
followed. The mere fact, therefore,
that the lessons are open to criticism,
or that there is certain amount OF dis
satisfaction expressed with them, is
not of itself a sufficient reason for
change in our policy. The questions to
be considered are, (o) whether the criti-
cism is altogether wellfounded; (b)
whether, if we'll founded, they are of
sufficient consequence to justify a
change; (c) whether, if sufficient to JUS
tify change, change so radical as
proposed is necessary whether some
lesser changes might not do as well.
And concerning the dissatisfaction;
whether the amount of dissatisfaction
is great or widespread, and whether
there is a likelihood of the dissatisfac
tion being allayed.
Now, / do not believe there is any
widespread or violent dissatisfaction
with our present policy in this regard.
1t is individual, not general; mild, not
yiolent:-Or we should have heard
more of it. 1t would have been felt
by our Publishing House; it would
have appeared in articles in our papers
more than it has; it would have come
to the surface more than it has in our
Conventions and Conferences. If am
correct in this, there is no call for
change, and it certainly is not advisa-
BILE for church to change its policy
when there is no special call for it.
The reasons for whatever dissatisfac-
tion exists,are various. Some of them,
such as are inseparable from any
scheme that can be devised; some of
them arise from the special circum-
stances in which the objector as pastor,
or superintendent or teacher, may be
placed; and often the objection may
arise only from some personal idiosyn-
cracy of the ObjectOr, theological, spirit
ual, or mental. These things cannot
be entirely: avoided.
l. One of the first and most frequent
objections we hear, and one that will
probably be dwelt on with considerable
feeling in the discussion, is that the
International Lessons are selected and
arranged, so far as the Scripture is con-
eerned by Committee representing the
so-called Evangelical sects, in which
Committee, we have no representation,
AS an appeal to sectarian pride and
self-esteem, this is an argument of
some weight. We would like to let
the "evangelicals know that if they do
not admit US to representation on
that Committee, we have self-respect
enough, not to use the same Bible les
sons they do. We can manage our own
affairs without adopting their selec-
tions. As an appeal to this sort of
pride alone, is his objection of weight?
1t is of no practical account aside from
that. For suppose we were represented
according to our numbers, or had equal
representation as a sect, what practical
effect would our representation have
in the selection and arrangement of the
LessOns2 What were one OF two
among so many? We should be out
voted every time there came a direct
issue. Would we be ready to accept